"I went to Nias Island, North Nias, Nias, and then to Gunung Sitoli as well. I wanted to check their national roads, the provincial axis roads, and the district axis roads," he said in a video accessed on the Presidential Secretariat channel on Wednesday.
After the review, the President informed that the government is targeting to complete the construction of national road infrastructure in Nias by 2023.
"For this national road, the circumference is only 16 kilometers; God willing, next year, everything will be completed because they really need a new road," the President said.
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The work to improve the Laehuwa-Ombulata-Tumula-Faekhuna'a road in 2022 will be carried out with a budget of Rp32.36 billion.
This section will connect the West Ring and East Ring of Nias, from North Nias to Gunung Sitoli city on Nias Island.
In addition to national roads, Widodo also highlighted the construction of the provincial and district/city road axis. He said that the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) and the local government will handle the project.
"Then, the provincial road should be handled by the Governor immediately, while the district road will be handled by the PUPR Ministry since the regional budget is not sufficient," he added.
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The President said he hopes that the improvement of road infrastructure would boost economic growth in Nias Island.
"We want Nias' commodities, such as coconut, fish, and others, to reach a wider market and have good competitiveness if the infrastructure is ready, including for tourism. I see that surfing in Nias is also good and has promising demand," Widodo remarked.
Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Basuki Hadimuljono; Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasonna Laoly; Minister of State Secretary, Pratikno; Governor of North Sumatra, Edy Rahmayadi; and head of North Nias district, Amizaro Waruwu, accompanied the President during the visit.
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Translator: Desca Lidya N, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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